Ed Rogers had decided after three decades of knee pain that nothing was going to change.
Little did he know advanced orthopedic robotic technology at Carle Orthopedics that protects healthy bone and ensures precise implant would restore both of his knees.
“I tried a variety of remedies that at best were temporary solutions,” he said. That included having a minimally invasive arthroscopy on both knees, followed by steroid injections.
“We made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor who worked with professional athletes and his recommendation was to delay knee replacement as long as possible because he believed you cannot replace the joints and get better results than what God gave you,” Rogers said. “So, I decided to live with the pain.”
Then he fell at Niagara Falls.
He and Phyllis, his wife of 45 years, were vacationing on the Canada side of “The Falls” with her cousin and husband. They took a scenic boat trip to see the falls up close and on the return trip he caught his heel while stepping off a curb, lost his balance and fell onto pavement, breaking a hip in several places. The 74-year-old received an ambulance ride to a hospital in Canada before a quick transfer to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, New York. There, he had hip surgery after the accident and recovered a few days before returning home to Monticello.
Rogers said the hip injury came because he needed to address his arthritic knees. He said his luck changed when he saw Leslie Manohar, MD, at Carle Orthopedics in Champaign. A U.S. Navy veteran, Rogers said he liked the idea that Dr. Manohar also was a Navy veteran – on active duty for four years as a Lieutenant Commander and surgeon during the war in Afghanistan.
“It is the best decision I ever made. After physical therapy, I am encouraged I can return to daily routines like standing without pain and walking longer distances,” he said.
MAKO Robotic knee replacement is a gamechanger, Dr. Manohar said. “The replacement is based on a three-dimensional imaging CT scan so the surgical plan is patient specific which allows for more precise bone cuts. Benefits of MAKO robotic surgery are decreased blood loss (hence bleeding) as well as potential for decreased pain and faster recovery. It may also lead to decreased dependence on narcotic pain medication which allows for same-day out-patient surgery enabling for a better at-home recovery,” she said.
The procedure typically allows patients to go home on the same day and recuperate in the comfort of familiar surroundings rather than staying overnight in a hospital setting. Dr. Manohar said she often encourages patients to wear an inexpensive activity tracker to monitor steps after surgery. “Patients come in because they want to stay active, they want to travel and live life to the fullest and physical movement helps them maintain that activity.”
While Rogers experienced right knee replacement in October 2025 and left knee replacement in March 2026, his wife, Phyllis also struggled in 2025 with recuperating from a break in her back while getting into the tub and later a broken arm.
The help of family and neighbors with preparing meals, cutting the grass or shoveling snow helped them get through overlapping procedures, she said. “We have been very blessed.”
Phyllis Rogers said her husband’s determination and sense of humor really helped him recover as well to which Ed quipped, “The cattle prod didn’t hurt.”
While Ed said he has no plans to leave the country again, the couple does plan to use his new knees on the dance floor at their grandson’s upcoming wedding.
Visit Carle.org to learn more about Carle Orthopedics services and physicians in your area.
Categories: Culture of Quality, Community
Tags: Champaign-Urbana, joint, Joint replacement, orthopedics